Walking the West Highland Way - 8 Days

Make your own way to Drymen, a small town north of Glasgow that is a gateway to the Highlands. If you arrive early there is a teashop with home-made cakes across the green and the small Clachan Inn where Rob Roy used to come down for a swift pint whilst collecting "Blackmail." Accommodation: Kip in the Kirk (a converted 1819 church hall) is our overnight stop, where the host will make you more than welcome and has become a favourite with our hikers. *If you wish to walk from the official start of the West Highland Way in Milngavie, please choose our 10-Day itinerary (WH1).

Experience the gentle scenery on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond on today's hike. Passing highland cattle in the fields, the route winds up through forest and across the moors up to Conic Hill. From the summit, enjoy great views over the loch and across the islands there. This marks the boundary of the Highland fault and officially the start of the Highlands proper. The way drops down to Balmaha by the water and then winds its way towards Rowardennan along the lochshore with tree-framed views. Rowardennan marks the road head and a convenient place to stay at our pleasant hotel. An extra day here would be advised if you wanted to make an ascent of Ben Lomond. Accommodation: We stay overnight at Rowardennan Hotel with bar. The inn is practically on the shore of Loch Lomond and beautiful scenery surrounds it including the mass of Ben Lomond. All rooms have ensuite facilities. The restaurant provides carefully selected, seasonal dishes ensuring that you receive a true taste of Scotland.

Today you walk in the shadow of Ben Lomond for much of the time, following the Loch edge path. There are no big ascents to make, but a few short steep ups and downs. You can pass by Rob Roy’s prison and cave, where he is said to have held up in times of difficulty and held prisoners at his pleasure. You could perhaps have a drink at the hotel at Inversnaid before walking on to Ardleish. Here you can raise a buoy on a pole to attract the attention of the ferryman who will collect you and transfer you to our hotel on the western side of the loch (approx £5 per person, not included). If you fancy the longer option, or if the weather is too rough, you need to continue walking to Beinglas farm or the Inverarnan Drover’s inn to call for a taxi to transfer you to the hotel in Ardlui (not included). Accommodation: Tonight we stay at The Ardlui Hotel with comfortable rooms on the western side of Loch Lomond. Rooms have TV and tea tray etc. and there are two restaurants, a lounge and public bars.

Today a taxi, included in the cost of the holiday, is booked for you after breakfast to take you close to Crianlarich to start the walk. This will save you at least 8 miles / 12 km on the walk today and will reduce the day to a more manageable length. If you are a very strong walker and you do want to walk all the way then please contact us in good time to cancel the taxi. In which case you need to take the ferry back across Loch Lomond to continue on the West Highland Way Crianlarich lies under another big peak; Ben Mor. The largely valley route goes via the ancient priory of St. Fillan associated with both Robert The Bruce and Rob Roy, through the moraines of Dalrigh, where The Bruce was defeated in 1306. You then walk via the old mining settlement of Tyndrum where there is a gold and silver mine. The trail continues up past the peaks of Ben Lui and Ben Dorain to the Bridge of Orchy for a quick dram before continuing on to Loch Tulla. This is a beautifully situated lake surrounded by Scots pines - a remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest. Accommodation: Stay at the Inveroran Hotel, which is 16.5 miles from Crianlarich, or at the upgraded accommodation The Bridge of Orchy Hotel, approx 14 miles from Crianlarich. Both hotels are set in beautiful surroundings. *Note: you can also choose our 10-day version of the West Highland Way (WH1) on which we have split today's walk over two days.

Head up on the old military road across the wilds and the heather-clad wastes of Rannoch Moor, past Ba Bridge, claimed to be the remotest part of the route. The views become ever more expansive with views into great corries once filled with glaciers. Often you can see deer and a great interplay between land, lake, mountain and sky. The military road winds down to the old drovers' inn near the Gateway to Glencoe. This is in the shadow of perhaps the most impressive looking mountain of the tour: Buachaille Etive Mor (the Shepherd of Etive Mor). Accommodation: We normally overnight at the Kingshouse Hotel. If we cannot confirm the rooms, we can also try to book the bunkhouse. *If you have requested a single room, we will book you in the dormitory at Kinghouse Hotel. Request an upgrade to a single room for an additional charge. *If your trip includes a Friday or Saturday stay at Kingshouse, a two-night minimum applies; this can be a great opportunity to add a rest day and enjoy local walks or the hotel’s facilities, or you can select a different start date to avoid this.

From the Kingshouse Hotel the way passes beside Buchaille Etive Mor and then proceeds up the Devil's staircase to 1850 ft. It as bad as it seems and a well graded section of the West Highland Way. You can try to imagine the army bringing artillery pieces up here. This offers spectacular views back from whence you came. Then it is a long descent to sea level at the head of Loch Leven with views of the Blackwater damn, Loch Leven and The Pap of Glencoe. Kinlochleven was a place for hydroelectric power smelting bauxite for aluminium. Today, one of the old smelters is turned into a climbing centre offering ice climbing. More sedentary activity can be had by walking to the Grey Mares Tail waterfall on the edge of town. Accommodation: In Kinlochleven we use The Highland Getaway or the Bank House Guesthouse. A warm welcome awaits at either of these establishments.

A steep climb up under the steep slopes of the Mamore hills at the beginning of the day follows old Victorian hunting tracks. Then you are back on the old military road and over the Lairigmor Pass. Hike through dense coniferous forest to Glen Nevis past the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak (4408ft). The West Highland Way continues into Fort William on the side of Loch Linnhe, where it ends right in the centre and close to handy pubs for a deserved celebration. Fort William is a Mecca for climbers, mountain bikers and train enthusiasts. The town was built as a garrison against the Jacobite threat. A few remains of the fort are to be seen by the lochside. Accommodation: We use many different B&Bs and guesthouses in Fort William as it is a busy town.